Le “Fatiche dei Prologhi”, ovvero la cantata/prologo a Napoli dal 1761 al 1781

Prologues became a fixture in operatic performances in Naples between 1761 and 1781, and the practice spread to other Italian courts. Though they were referred to as prologues, these pieces were full-fledged cantatas. The recognition of their musical and dramatic importance prompted composers and critics to react against the generic and potentially misleading label, but it was still common to see the two terms used interchangeably. The main evidence of these works comes from their librettos, since almost all the scores have been lost. A comprehensive inventory of these works, including their titles, the date and place of their performance, the occasion they were intended to celebrate, the libraries in which the sources are now located, the titles of the operas they preceded, and the names of their librettists, composers, performers, and scenographers is appended